Screw tight tube vice frame

ABSTRACT

On all modern tattoo machines, the tube grip is a removable part that houses the needle bar, which holds the needle groupings that move into and out of the skin in the act of tattooing. The tube grip and needle groupings must be removable to allow for cleaning and sterilization.  
     This invention is intended to improve the technology currently used by tattoo machines to secure the tube grip to the tattoo machine frame. Existing tube vice technology uses methods of securing the tube grip to the tattoo machine frame that tend to bend or crimp the tube grip. The Screw Tight Tube Vice Frame uses tube vice technology that secures the tube grip in place just as securely as or more securely than existing technology, but will not bend or crimp the tube grip. It includes a frame with holes drilled and tapped for attaching it to other components of a tattoo machine and a tube vice mechanism for attaching the tube grip to the frame. The tube vice mechanism allows the tube grip to be secured to the tattoo machine frame with a simple twist, and released with a counter twist.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0002] Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX

[0003] Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0004] This invention pertains to the field of tattooing, and isintended to improve the method used to secure the tube grip to thetattoo machine frame. The tube grip houses the needle bar that holds theneedle grouping, which moves into and out of the skin in the act oftattooing.

[0005] Because tattoos must be applied in a sterile manner, the tubegrip and needle groupings must be removable to allow them to be cleanedand sterilized. On all modern tattoo machines, the tube grip is aremovable part. Existing tube vice technology uses several methods tosecure the tube grip to the tattoo machine frame, but many of thesemethods tend to bend or crimp the cylindrical tube grip. The Screw TightTube Vice Frame (shown in FIG. 2) is designed to allow the tube grip tobe secured to the frame with a simple twist and released with a countertwist. The Screw Tight Tube Vice Frame secures the tube grip in placejust as securely as or more securely than existing technology, but willnot bend or crimp the tube grip.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The object of the Screw Tight Tube Vice Frame is to secure thetube grip to the frame in a manner that improves on the methodscurrently used by tattoo machines, while providing a housing for thetattoo machine components. The Screw Tight Tube Vice Frame consists of atube vice frame, into which holes are drilled and tapped for attachingthe frame to other tattoo machine components, and a tube vice mechanismfor attaching the tube grip to the frame. This tube vice mechanismallows the tube grip to be secured to the frame with a simple twist, andreleased with a counter twist, without bending or crimping it. This isimportant because the tube grip with needle groupings is removed oftento allow for cleaning and sterilization.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

[0007]FIG. 1 shows the tattoo machine with the Screw Tight Tube ViceFrame.

[0008]FIG. 2 shows the components of the Screw Tight Tube Vice Frame indetail.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Components

[0010] The Screw Tight Tube Vice Frame consists of a tube vice frame anda tube vice mechanism, which attaches a tube grip of standard industrymeasurement to the frame. The tube vice mechanism may include aremovable hollow threaded rod to house the compression ferrule, or thehollow threaded section that houses the compression ferrule may be castor machined as part of the frame. The tube vice mechanism also includesa compression nut that is tightened around the compression ferrule tosecure the tube grip to the frame, and loosened to release it from theframe. The specifications for the threaded rod and compression ferruleare as follows:

[0011] threaded rod: approximately ½″ to ⅝″ long, with ½ 20 threading;the inside diameter of the hollow centre measures {fraction (5/16)}″ or{fraction (11/64)}″

[0012] compression ferrule: usually measures ¼″ tall, with an insidediameter of {fraction (5/16)}″

[0013] Manufacturing and Assembly

[0014] The Screw Tight Tube Vice Frame may be made of metal (such asaluminum, brass, steel, or iron) or any other rigid material (such asplastic, fibreglass, or lexan). Holes are drilled in the tube vice frameas follows:

[0015] hole drilled for the upper binding post

[0016] hole drilled for the lower binder post

[0017] two holes drilled on the flat plane for the screws that securethe coils (one hole per coil)

[0018] drilled and tapped hole for the screw that secures the rearspring saddle to the frame

[0019] The tube vice mechanism, which is used to attach a tube grip ofstandard industry measurement to the frame, is located on the frontlower portion of the frame. It may include a removable hollow threadedrod to house the compression ferrule, or the hollow threaded sectionthat houses the compression ferrule may be cast or machined as part ofthe frame.

[0020] If a removable threaded rod is used to house the compressionferrule, an internal taper is machined into the lower entrance of thethreaded rod, starting at the outside diameter and machining inwards toa recommended depth of ⅛″. The entry to the threaded rod is taperedinternally to approximately the same degree as the compression ferruleto allow the rod to house the ferrule. The threaded rod is attached tothe tube vice frame by machining the frame as follows:

[0021] a hole measuring {fraction (29/64)}″ in diameter is step-drilledtwo-thirds of the way into the front lower section of the frame

[0022] a secondary hole measuring {fraction (5/16)}″ or {fraction(11/64)}″ in diameter is drilled through the remaining one-third of theframe, using the same center point as the previous hole

[0023] the {fraction (29/64)}″ hole is tapped with a ½ 20 bottoming tapfrom the entrance of the hole, starting at the bottom of the frame andcontinuing through to the end of the step drilling (approximatelytwo-thirds of the way into the frame)

[0024] the threaded rod is screwed into the threaded hole

[0025] If the hollow threaded section is cast as part of the frame, itprotrudes approximately ½″ from the bottom of the frame (the same lengthas the threaded rod, described above, would protrude once screwed intothe frame). If the frame is cut on a CNC mill, the hollow threadedsection may also be machined into the frame, protruding approximately ½″from the bottom of the frame (again, the same length as the threaded rodor cast threaded section would protrude from the frame). The same taper(recommended depth of ⅛″) applies whether a removable threaded rod isused to house the compression ferrule or the threaded section is cast ormachined as part of the frame.

[0026] The compression ferrule is usually made of a flexible material(often brass). It is tapered on both ends; the tapers meet in themiddle. A slit is made vertically through half of the ferrule to allowflexibility when it is compressed and tightened around the tube grip.The compression ferrule is placed into the hollow section of thethreaded rod or frame.

[0027] The compression nut is step drilled, drilled, and tapered to thesame specifications as the threaded rod. It may be machined from anytype of metal. It is screwed onto the threaded rod or threaded sectionof the frame that houses the compression ferrule with a tighteningmotion to secure the tube grip, or unscrewed in a loosening motion torelease the tube grip.

[0028] Function

[0029] When the compression nut is turned clockwise in a tighteningmotion, the bevels make contact and slide over each other, creatingpressure on the compression ferrule and causing it to compress. Thevertical slit provides greater room for compression as the ends of theslit move toward each other, creating a squeezing effect and securingthe tube grip to the frame.

[0030] Turning the compression nut counter-clockwise in a looseningmotion relieves the pressure on the compression ferrule, resulting inthe release of the tube grip.

1. What we claim as our invention is the screw tight tube vice frame asshown in FIG. 2, including the cast or machined frame made of metal orother material, drilled and tapped where necessary; and the tube vicemechanism, which consists of the threaded rod or threaded frame section,compression ferrule, and compression nut.